fns vs Raycast.
Two tools, two philosophies. Raycast is a search launcher — open it, type a name, press Enter. fns is direct-press — bind fn+S to Safari and it opens in under 50 ms, no typing. Most power users run both.
Different mental models. Both valid.
When each tool shines.
Neither replaces the other. They occupy different parts of the workflow.
Raycast shines for…
Extensions and plugins, AI-powered commands, calendar integrations, 1Password, custom scripts, and anything where fuzzy search is the right input model.
fns shines for…
Your 20 daily apps reached in one keystroke, clipboard history, voice dictation, hjkl scroll everywhere, text expansion — all with zero UI to open.
Best setup
fns handles your muscle-memory layer (apps, clipboard, voice). Raycast handles everything else (search, scripts, AI, integrations). They do not fight over the same keys.
Feature by feature.
A straightforward side-by-side — no marketing spin.
Who picks what.
The honest answer depends on how your brain works.
Pick fns if…
You open the same 10–20 apps every day and want them on direct key bindings. You prefer no-UI, no-type, immediate action — and you want clipboard and voice dictation in the same tool.
Pick Raycast if…
Your workflow is search-centric. You use extensions, want calendar integrations, or need AI commands woven into a launcher. Raycast's extension ecosystem is unmatched.
Pick both if…
You want the muscle-memory speed of direct-press for daily apps plus the flexibility of Raycast for everything else. They use different modifier keys so there is no conflict.
Try fns — see if it clicks.
Join the waitlist to try direct-press launching for yourself. If Raycast handles your search needs, fns handles the rest.
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